Live Updates: Aftermath of Hurricane Francine in Louisiana | Hurricane Center

Hurricane Francine made landfall near Morgan City Wednesday evening and swept through Louisiana, causing widespread flooding in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish.

The Category 2 hurricane weakened to a tropical storm over land, and its eyewall brushed the New Orleans and Baton Rouge metropolitan areas for hours, bringing rain to southeastern Louisiana.

Since 5 a.m. on Thursday, more than 388,000 residents in over 20 communities have been without power.

In Jefferson Parish in Metairie, sewers overflowed and spilled onto the streets. Authorities urged residents to stay home and avoid the streets.

First reports of damage are received

Preliminary damage reports from the National Weather Service show that Hurricane Francine caused widespread flooding in several communities.

According to reports from Lafourche Parish, emergency responders rescued at least 26 people from floodwaters in the Thibodaux area.

St. Charles Parish reported that 185 buildings on the east bank and 76 on the west bank were flooded. St. Tammany reported that one of its fire stations was flooded and that water on the streets was threatening homes.

A building was reportedly blown over on Park Avenue in Houma. In Livingston Parish, trees reportedly fell on two mobile homes. In Assumption Parish, downed power lines blocked Louisiana Highway 1 in Napoleonville.

A more complete picture of the damage in southeast Louisiana will emerge when residents and officials are able to assess property and roads under safe conditions.

–6:45 am

Several streets blocked by debris and fallen power lines

“Numerous roads” were blocked by fallen trees and power lines as well as debris and water on the roadways, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development said in a social media post.

Emergency crews should begin road assessment and cleanup operations as soon as conditions are safe. The Department of Transport urged people not to travel during assessment and cleanup operations.

Those who must drive should use extreme caution, avoid driving through standing water or over debris such as downed power lines, leave adequate space between vehicles and treat out-of-service traffic lights like intersections with four stop signs, according to the DOTD.

Road conditions can be checked at www.511la.org.

–6:15 am

Louisiana is still hit by flooding and power outages as Francine leaves the state

More than 388,000 people in over 20 parishes in southeastern Louisiana were without power Thursday morning as Tropical Storm Francine moved north out of the state.

The widespread flooding in New Orleans and the surrounding area had not yet receded by Thursday morning.

The center of the storm was north of Franklinton, Louisiana, about 60 miles north of New Orleans, according to a 4 a.m. report from the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Francine moved to the north-northeast and maximum sustained winds were about 45 mph with stronger gusts.

A storm surge warning remained in effect for Grand Isle to the Mississippi-Alabama border and for Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas.

According to the NHC, waves caused by Francine would continue Thursday, affecting large parts of the northern Gulf Coast and causing life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

–5:30 am